Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for self-reflection not only of the ANC, but the party’s Alliance partners in general, after the party’s dismal performance at the 29 May national elections.
President Ramaphosa delivered the closing address of a three-day National Lekgotla which ended on Tuesday at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni.
Ramaphosa expressed cognisance of the party’s decline following the recent elections, but said the ANC remained focused on turning the loss into a win.
“The ANC-led Alliance can handle all the challenges of this moment and turn the setback into a strategic advantage to propel the transformation agenda forward. When we are united, we can never be defeated,” he said.
The president said his party agreed with certain elements of a recent statement from its alliance partner, the South African Communist Party on the occasion of its 103rd anniversary that the party takes a critical but non-oppositionist stance towards the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“We cannot renew the ANC without renewing the alliance. We need members, volunteers, cadres and leaders who are committed,” he said.
Ramaphosa said a discussion among the alliance partners was necessary on the pressing political, strategic, tactical and organisational issues of the transformation agenda.
He defended the party’s position within the GNU and said its transformative agenda has been secured through the basis provided by the principles and minimum programme contained in the Statement of Intent (SOI) of the GNU.
He said the 7th administration’s Medium Term Development Plan will enable the implementation of the ANC’s electoral mandate, based on the deliberations of the lekgotla.
Ramaphosa repeated the call for a National Dialogue and said the GNU parties agreed that it would be as inclusive as possible and develop a comprehensive social compact.
The Secretary-General’s office is expected to publicly communicate the more detailed outcomes of the lekgotla as canvassed in the commission and adopted.
The president said the meeting concluded with a firm sense of what needed to be done to rebuild the ANC and the Alliance and to begin to restore people’s trust in the movement.
“We leave this Lekgotla encouraged and inspired. We have identified the tasks that our movement needs to undertake in the weeks and months ahead to meet the expectations of the people of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
The NEC is expected to hold a meeting in a few weeks to undertake a thorough review of the organisation on a branch by branch basis with a view to strengthening and renewing the movement.
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